A Railroad Lackey by Ambrose Bierce
"A Railroad Lackey" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1890. The story follows the journey of a man named Johnnie, who works as a lackey for a railroad company. Johnnie's job involves carrying a heavy satchel containing important documents and packages between stations, but he dreams of a better life beyond his mundane tasks. One day, while on his route, Johnnie encounters a group of outlaws who hold him hostage and demand that he deliver a package to a mysterious destination. Despite the danger, Johnnie is determined to keep his job and complete his task, even if it means risking his own life. Will he be able to overcome the challenges ahead and achieve his dreams? Read "A Railroad Lackey" to find out.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1897 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Drama, Social Commentary · 619 words
First lines
Ben Truman, you're a genius and can write, Though one would not suspect it from your looks.
You lack that certain spareness which is quite Distinctive of the persons who make books.
What this Textopian page supports
A Railroad Lackey is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1897 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Drama, Social Commentary
- Length: 619 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Railroad Lackey by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Railroad Lackey?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The writing suggests a setting in the past, in the era of railroads being a primary form of transport and communication, elements of which are critical to understanding the story.
- Drama — The conflicts and issues dealt with are consistent with the dramatic genre. The characters are caught in complicated situations often associated with their occupation and their life which brings dramatic flair to the story.
- Social Commentary — The author, Ambrose Bierce, was known for his satirical and critical commentary on society, and aspects of it can be seen through themes and plotlines that bring forth societal implications of the era.
Tags
historical fiction · western · literary fiction · classic literature · short stories · american literature · gilded age · railroad history · steampunk · alternate history · speculative fiction · science fiction